MEMBERS of a popular social club in Helsby have expressed grave fears for its future following last week's announcement that Brand-Rex is closing its village plant.

MEMBERS of a popular social club in Helsby have expressed grave fears for its future following last week's announcement that Brand-Rex is closing its village plant.

The social club has been an established part of the BICC site off Chester Road for years but cable manufacturer Brand-Rex's decision to end production at Helsby next March leaves a question mark over its survival.

Members have already contacted the company, Vale Royal Borough Council and Helsby Parish Council in a desperate bid to secure the club's future - possibly by acquiring the building themselves.

Their concerns were aired by Cllr Frank Thomas at Monday's Helsby Parish Council meeting.

Cllr Thomas had been contacted by the secretary of the club to enquire whether there were any grants available that might enable the membership to buy the premises.

Concern over the club's future has been building for some time and Cllr Thomas reported to the council that, just before the closure announcement was made, a meeting took place between members, agents for Novar, who own the site, and Vale Royal Borough Council, including Frodsham councillor Brian Lloyd.

Cllr Thomas said: 'The figures for buying or renting are very large and the club's accounts will not stand up to that. So the club asked if the company could give it to them and the agents went away with that.'

Only hours after that meeting had taken place, Brand-Rex announced it was to close the site, with the loss of up to 244 jobs, raising an even more serious question mark over the club's future.

'This puts a whole new complexion on it. Are they going to get rid of the whole site?' asked Cllr Thomas.

He explained Vale Royal had looked at a number of possible initiatives and had come up with one possible grant option which was now being explored.

'Vale Royal is also going to talk to Novar agents Healey and Baker with regard to the social club side of the site. It's a watch this space situation,' admitted Cllr Thomas.

'There is real concern about what is going to happen to the club. The football field and tennis courts are on Green Belt land so there is some safeguard there. And Vale Royal in its borough plan say they do not want to lose any existing recreational facilities which includes the facilities on this site.'

Parish council chairman Ian Oulton told members they had received a letter from Brand-Rex general manager Steve Tickle who said he wanted to work with the authority to mitigate the job losses.

Cllr Thomas felt the council should take up the opportunity as soon as possible: 'We have got to keep a watching brief. We should take up the offer of Brand-Rex of a meeting very quickly. There are a lot of things that have got to happen here first. We should take up the initiative to talk on a lot of matters.'

Cllr Oulton agreed: 'We cannot turn down a meeting so we should arrange an ad hoc meeting.'